Technology Reflection: Smartboards

Technology Reflection Assignment

Description/Experience

The last seminar was about using different resources to manipulate the Smartboard. Mr. Graham was there to teach and show the class how to do this.  The different resources that he showed us were based off of websites and interactive programs to be used with the Smartboard.  This was very interesting since I’ve only seen them used as projecting a lesson such as Powerpoint.  He centered the class around different games and interactive programs to be used with it.

Learners: 6th grade math class. 

Learning outcomes:  I would like to use one of the basic geometry class programs.  Children could learn different shapes and how to manipulate them to make others. 

Assessment: Since the learning is hands on by using the Smartboard students would be assessed individually.  The student would go to the Smartboard and then the teacher would tell the student specific instructions.  These could be manipulating a shape or making a square out of triangles. 

• The lesson would begin with introducing the students to Smartboard program that they will be using. (5 minutes)
• They will get a lecture about how this is important to math and the different shapes they can make with the program.  (5 minutes)
• The teacher will give them a task to do on the smartboard, have them wait a moment so each one can think in their minds, and then choose a student to come to the smartboard to do it.  (10 minutes)

Pedagogical content

I think it is very important to have to whole class interacting in this lesson.  Drill and practice will also be important as they go up to the board to write their answers.  My strategies will be to first show the students the shapes.  After this the students will be able to practice them individually.  Finally they will present what they have learned to the class on the Smartboard. 

In this lesson some conceptions that students of different ages will have are that if the students are older they will not be as eager to do this because they already know all of these shapes and might not find manipulating them interesting.  If the students are younger they will be more eager to learn and participate in this activity because they have not been introduced to this material before.  To stimulate the older students the teacher would have them create more complex shapes. 

Technological-Pedagogical

The main instructional strategy that my technology would serve in my activity is that the Smartboard will be able to manipulate the shapes on the Smartboard instantly as if they had their own through drill and practice. Using this technology will be beneficial because the students will be entertained since they are using a mysterious and new technology.

During the lesson some important classroom management strategies that have to be kept in mind are keeping the students active, orderly, and on task.  The lesson should produce an active learning environment.  To do this students must be kept attentive and participating in the lesson. Also any disruption from a student must be dealt with swiftly. 

Technological Pedagogical Content

The Smartboard will allow the student to be interactive in the lesson, while allowing them to build on to their fundamental knowledge of geometrical shapes. The students will want to use the Smartboard to make different shapes, which in return will give the students a greater opportunity to learn. If the students are motivated they will want to learn the material presented.

Without the use of the Smartboard, the students’ interactive practice would be possible if there was different building blocks they could use.  Unfortunately this would be limited to however many blocks and the types of shape they have.  With the smartboard the shapes, sizes, and manipulations are limitless.  The Smartboard will not only be a great motivational factor but also something that the students will enjoy and have a lot of fun with.